US lost a fifth of its butterflies within two decades: Study
- Butterflies in the United States have decreased by 22% since 2000, according to a study published in Science.
- The study found a 1.3% average annual decline in butterfly populations, with 114 species significantly declining.
- A survey showed that monarch butterflies are at a near-record low, with fewer than 10,000 counted, down from 1.2 million in 1997.
- Major factors for this decline include insecticides, climate change, and habitat loss, highlighting a need for national action.
212 Articles
212 Articles
Where Have All the Butterflies Gone? “Shocking” Nationwide Decline Sparks Alarm
Butterfly populations in the U.S. declined by 22% from 2000 to 2020, with 13 times as many species declining as increasing. Butterflies are disappearing in the United States. All kinds of them. With a speed scientists call alarming, and they are sounding an alarm. A sweeping new study published in Science tallies butterfly data from [...]


Butterflies Are Vanishing at a “Catastrophic” Rate, Could Have Cascading Effects on Food Systems and Wildlife
Butterfly populations in the U.S. have declined by 22% over 20 years, with 114 species experiencing significant drops. Insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids, are a major driver of the decline, harming biodiversity and ecosystems. The Southwest U.S. saw the most severe losses, with butterfly populations dropping by over 50% in some states. Butterflies are vital pollinators, and their decline threatens food systems, wildlife, and ecological ba…
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